Not only mature forests and undisturbed areas provide interesting data to our click beetle fauna. In this sunny afternoon, after work, Nikola and I rode out to the Central Public Park (Népliget) of Budapest. Our principal aim was to examine an old black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia) I spotted last year, close to a very busy road. Although black locust tree is not indigenous in Hungary, it is a new potential host plant for a modest number of beetle species.

While trying to ignore the flabbergasted gaze of pedestrians and dog walkers, we spent an hour with examining the huge hollow of this dead trunk. The following species were found during this short trip:

Procraerus tibialis (Lacordaire, 1835), Ampedus nigroflavus (Goeze, 1777), Ampedus elegantulus (Schönherr, 1817), Brachygonus megerlei (Lacordaire, 1835), Lacon querceus (Herbst, 1784), Protaetia cuprea obscura (Andersch, 1797), Neatus picipes (Herbst, 1797), Mycetochara axillaris (Paykull, 1799), Prionychus ater (Fabricius, 1775), Eustrophus dermestoides (Fabricius, 1792), Aegosoma scabricorne (Scopoli, 1763).

Ampedus nigroflavus (Goeze, 1777). Although I searched for this species in so many trips and places, finally it turned out that the most certain locality is near to my home.

Ampedus elegantulus (Schönherr, 1817). Not uncommon in Hungary, in wet forests, near rivers and streams. I have no idea how is able to survive in such a dry place.

Eustrophus dermestoides (Fabricius, 1792). A false darkling beetle, common in wet forests, under wet bark.

A photo taken last year with my mobile phone. Body parts of a very rare click beetle, Lacon querceus (Herbst, 1784) were found here, also in black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacacia). For me, this is a highly interesting host plant record, almost as unbelievable  as if someone would capture salmon in the Danube or adder on the Gellért Hill.